Clip or fastener



April 1934- G. D. OVERHOLTZ v 1,953,627

CLIP OR FASTENER Filed March 28, 1931 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES T FFICE McClintic-Marshall Corporation,

Bethlehem,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 Application March 28, 1931, Serial No. 526,091

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in packing clips or fastening means for temporarily securing articles of manufacture together, for the purpose of shipment and handling, and is 5 more particularly directed to a clip of thecharacter stated designed to be employed in connection with the handling and transportation of panel sections entering into the construction of outdoor 'advertising'structures'.

For example, all-metal panel sections of comparatively light construction are employed in connection with the modern type of outdoor advertising structure. Such panel sections are sub jected to repeated handling and are liable to become warped or otherwise damaged, unless mum cost; to provide clip means cooperating with means on the sections for securing them together in rigid relationship; and to provide a means which may be easily applied and removed by the ordinary workman.

While I have shown my invention in connection with outdoor-advertising panel sections, it will be understood'that it is not to be limited to such use, but may be applied to other articles of manufacture ina similar manner.

In the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of panel sections for an outdoor advertising structure, arranged to receive the securing means of my invention;

Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 1, showing the panel sections secured together by means of my invention;

Fig. 3, an enlarged perspective view of the packing clip;

Fig. 4, an enlarged perspective view of a separator or spacer to be employed in connection with the packing clip; and

Fig. 5, a perspective view of a modified form of packing clip.

Referring to the drawing, the panel sections 2 are of the usual and well known all-metal construction consisting of a rectangular frame 3 each other.

formed of angle iron, having a flat sheet of metal a secured thereover by means of bending the edges thereof over the frame, and by spot welding the sheet to the frame at frequent intervals.

A plurality of openings 5 are provided in the edges of the panel sections for the primary purpose of securing said sections to an outdoor advertising structure in the usual manner, said openings extending through the angle iron frame and portions of the sheet bent thereover. The fiat faces or surfaces of the sheets 4 provide for the application of an advertisement thereto, either by pasting or painting.

The panel sections 2 are fabricated at the factory for shipment to the advertising plant owners or purchasers. Due to their relatively light construction, these sections must be carefully handled and packed so that they may be delivered in an undamaged condition.

By the use of my invention, the panel sections may be packed by securing them together in pairs to be readily handled and stacked for shipping, without danger of injury thereto, and without the additional shipping costs resulting from 180 crating or boxing.

In the practice of my invention, a pair of panel sections 2 of the character described are placed in superimposed relationship, as shown in Fig. 1, with the'smooth faces of the sheets 4 opposite In other words, the sections are placed with their front faces together, thereby minimizing the danger of injury thereto. In this relationship, the openings 5 of the sections are arranged in substantial vertical alinement and in pairs, thereby permitting the application of the fastening means or clip constituting my invention, said clip being designated by the numeral 6.

The clip, as illustrated and as preferred, consists of a member having a back or body portion I and extended bendable channel-like flanges 8, preferably formed from a single fiat strip of relatively thin or pliable metal having its ends bent to form the flanges. Projecting section-engaging elements 9 are provided centrally of the portion 7 and are preferably formed by stamping out portions of the metal in the manner of Fig. 3. These elements 9 are spaced-apart and project from the back portion '7 in the same general direction as the flanges 8.

Suitable separators or spacers 10 are provided and are adapted to be inserted between the panel sections 2, as in Fig. 2, for the purpose of spacing the front faces of said sections apart. The members 10 are preferably formed of cardboard or other similar material, to provide a resilient means for preventing chafing and vibration of the panel sections, and may be of angular form, having a substantially right angular portion or flange 11. The separators function to maintain the sheets apart sufficiently to allow water to pass between the adjacent sheets and, of course, permit the circulation of air therebetween, thus preventing the faces of the sheets from becoming corroded.

A separator or spreader 10 is placed between the panel sections in alinement with a pair of openings 5, with the flanges 11 thereof extending over the edge of one of the sections and its opening. A clip 6 is then placed over the portion 11 in such a manner as to present the projecting elements 9 thereof toward and opposite the said openings 5. A blow of a hammer on the back '7 of the clip will drive one of said elements 9 through the portion 11 and into a section opening 5, and cause the other element 9 to be entered into the corresponding opening 5 in the other panel section, as particularly shown in Fig. 2.

With the clip 6 so positioned, the flanges 8 thereof will extend over the angle iron frames 4 of the panel sections, and may be crimped or bent thereover, as in Fig. 2, by means of a hammer or other tool, to secure the panel sections together. A plurality of the clips 6 and the spreaders 10 may be applied, as for example, one at each corner of the pair of sections and at either side of the central portion thereof, to securely fasten said sections together.

When a pair of panel sections are secured together in this manner, they may be readily handled without danger of warping, and may be stacked or piled as a unit for shipping, without further packing. Also, the clips and spreaders may be applied as the panel sections are fabrica'ted, to facilitate handling thereof, or they may be applied at the warehouse immediately prior to shipment.

, In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified form of clip 6a, which is provided with an integral separator or spreader element 12 formed by bending the central portion of the back 7 outwardly and then backwardly upon itself. The portions (1 and b of the said element 12 may be spaced apart in accordance with the desired spacing of the panel sections. It will readily be seen that the element 12 may be entered between said panel sections in place of the spreader 10, with like effect.

When it is desired to unpack the panel sections after shipment or for the purpose of erection into an outdoor advertising structure, the flanges 8 of the clips 6 may be readily disengaged from the said sections by means of pliers, pinchbar or other suitable tool, whereupon the clips may be removed, together with the separators 10.

The cost of manufacturing the clips 6 is so low that they may be destroyed, if desired. However, said clips may be re-used since they are susceptible of several applications and removals without serious damage thereto.

I claim:

1. A temporary fastener device for framed panel sections including an initially formed channel-shaped member comprising a body, bendable end fianges, spaced-apart projecting elements intermediate the end flanges adapted to engage the panel sections and a separator element intermediate said projecting elements all of said elements projecting from the body in the same direction.

2. A temporary fastener device including a separator element and a clip member, said separator ,element comprising an angular yielding member,

and said clip member comprising a body, bendable end flanges, and centrally positioned spacedapart projecting elements intermediate. the end flanges, said separator positioned between the intermediate elements, and cooperating means on the separator and body for positioning the separator.

3. The combination with a plurality of framed panel sections having the frames thereof formed with openings, of a temporary fastener device for securing the panel sections together in spacedapart relationship, including a separator element, a clip member comprising a body, bendable end flanges, and centrally positioned spacedapart projecting elements intermediate the end flanges and adapted for insertion in the .frame openings, said separator positicned between the intermediate elements and entered between adjacent frames, said end flanges being positioned on the body to engage and overlap opposed edges of two adjacent frames.

GEORGE D. OVERHOLTZ. 

